Re-loading device for ink-jet writing head

ABSTRACT

The invention consists of a re-loading device for ink-jet writing head, particularly for three-color ink-jet writing head, which includes a mechanical device (which removes from the body (11) of the ink-jet writing head the original cover used by the producer) and a substitute cover (10) which is connected in a reversible manner to the body of the ink-jet writing head in place of the original cover, where the substitute cover (10) has the same size and shape as the original one and includes at least one tank (3) which contains the ink to be transferred into a tank positioned inside the body (11) of the ink-jet writing head.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention consists of a re-loading device for ink-jet writing head,particularly suitable for re-loading a three-colour ink-jet writinghead, often used in the printers constituting one of the most widespreadand common interface means with the user. The re-loading device includesa mechanical device for removing from the body of an ink-jet writinghead the original cover used by the producer and a substitute coverwhich is connected to the body of the ink-jet writing head in place ofthe original cover, where the substitute cover has the same size andshape as the original one and includes at least one tank containing theink to be transferred into a tank positioned inside the body of theink-jet writing head.

PRIOR ART

The printers constitute one of the most widespread and common terminals,which can be advantageously used in many technical fields, for instance:

telecommunication systems, wherein said printers can operate eitheralone (telex, fax, etc.), or combined with a complex telecommunicationsystem, said printers constituting one of the outlet means;

data processing systems with any dimension and power (from pocket ordesk calculator to personal computer, to a computerised data-processingcentre of a large company, and so on), wherein said printers constituteone of the most widespread interface means with the user, when they arenot the only available interface means.

There are on the market many well-known different printers which can beclassified according to many features, e.g. the writing head, which inits turn can be classified according to the printing system used (impacthead, ink-jet head, thermal head etc.); further details and/orclassification of the printers and/or writing heads will be omitted inthe present specification because they are not pertinent to the presentinvention.

For the same reason, in the present specification only ink-jet writingheads (and, in particular, three-colour ink-jet writing heads) will bediscussed, omitting the other functional unities which constitute aprinter.

Some three-colour ink-jet writing heads includes a fourth tankcontaining a black ink.

A multicolour ink-jet writing head comprises at least three tanks, eachof which contains an ink of different colour (green, red, blue andblack, if any) and printing means driven by the logical unit of theprinter, which in turn may be drived by an upper logical unit, if any;said printing means takes each of said inks from the relevant tank forjetting ink micro drops on a backing (normally but not necessarily ofpaper) in order to realise the written and/or graphical text asrequested.

An ink-jet writing head (and, in particular, a multicolour ink-jetwriting head) is expensive because the printing means is realisedthrough advanced constructive processes and by using materials havingparticular physical and chemical features carefully checked.

Although the producers define this ink-jet writing head as a"disposable" one, it will be apparent that it is uneconomical to replaceand to expel a working ink-jet writing head only because one or more ofthe inks loaded by the producer into the tanks of the ink-jet writinghead are exhausted.

The producers widely demonstrated that, utilising inks appropriatelydesigned for said particular use, it is possible to extend the usefullife of an ink-jet writing head beyond the exhaustion of the originalink charge.

There are present on the market many re-loading devices developed by theproducers of printing fittings which allow re-loading once or more timesa one-colour or a multicolour ink-jet writing head. The entrance to atank which is inside the ink-jet writing head can be obtained either byremoval of the means, if any, used by the producer for closing the holeused for the first loading of the relevant ink (green, red, blue orblack), or by realising a proper hole on the ink-jet writing headcovering.

Re-loading devices consisting of coverings (simple syringes, rubbersyringes, bellows syringes, etc.) containing an ink, providing differentshapes and/or dimensions and being of a low ergonomic level are known,for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 5,199,470; therefore, the user mustperform a sequence of operations which are not always easy and safe,particularly with respect to the risk of an uncontrolled ink leakagefrom the writing head after the complete ink re-loading of the relevanttank (not completely empty before the re-loading operation and/or havinga volume smaller than the loader one).

Ink re-loaders for ink-jet writing heads which allow the gradual andcontrolled supply of at least part of the ink contained in saidre-loader, obviating the aforementioned disadvantages of the abovementioned re-loaders, are known in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,408,256discloses an ink-jet writing head suitable to be re-loaded by removingfrom its body the original cover using mechanical device, by re-loadingin a known way the tanks positioned inside the body of the writing headand by putting back the original cover or a substitute cover.

EP-A-594,055 discloses a cover for ink-jet writing head which includes alot of holes, each of which corresponds to one of the holes provided inthe body of the writing head for the first loading of the tankspositioned inside the body of the writing head: the holes provided onsaid cover facilitate the insertion of the re-loading means used forre-loading in a known way the tanks positioned inside the body of thewriting head.

Said ink re-loaders (having an easy construction, being cheap,preferably realised in a recyclable plastic material and lacking inmetal parts) are perfectly suitable for ink-jet writing heads, beingexpressly designed and realised for the re-loading of said head.

The re-loading device object of the present invention constitutes animprovement of the already known ink re-loaders, since it allows afurther reduction of the manual ability required to fill an ink-jetwriting head, further reducing the risk, already very reduced, ofaccidental ink leakages and allowing the reloading (and then the re-use)of ink-jet writing heads which are rechargeable in a difficult way bymeans of the known re-loaders, e.g. ink-jet writing heads having rigidtanks and compensation systems of the inner pressure, and those whichprovide one or more tanks in foam material balanced with theenvironment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Object of the present invention is a re-loading device for ink-jetwriting head which comprises a mechanical device for removing from thebody of the ink-jet writing head the original cover used by the producerand a substitute cover which is connected to the body of the ink-jetwriting head in place of the original cover.

The mechanical device comprises a base suitable for receiving at least apart of the ink-jet writing head and a leverage "pivotally" connected tothe base and acting on the connection zone between the original coverand the body of the ink-jet writing head at least partially positionedinto the base.

The substitute cover has the same size and shape as the original coverand includes:

an external shell having the same size and shape as the original cover;

at least one tank, positioned inside the external shell, containing anink to be transferred into at least one tank positioned inside the bodyof the ink-jet writing head;

transfer means for transferring the ink from the at least one tankpositioned inside the external shell to the at least one tank positionedinside the body of the ink-jet writing head;

reversible means connecting the substitute cover to the body of theink-jet writing head, the substitute cover being manually separable fromthe body of the ink-jet writing head when at least one of its tanks isempty.

LIST OF THE ENCLOSED DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood with reference to an embodiment,suitable for re-loading a three-colour ink-jet writing head, shown inthe enclosed drawings, where:

FIG. 1 shows schematically a side view of a substitute cover realisedaccording to the invention connected to the body of a threecolourink-jet writing head;

FIG. 2 shows a top view of the upper side of the body of thethree-colour ink-jet writing head of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a top view of the substitute cover of FIG. 1, whosesectional views according to section planes A--A and B--B are shown inFIGS. 9 and 10, respectively;

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the substitute cover of FIG. 1, withoutreversible connecting means;

FIG. 5 shows a front view of the substitute cover of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 shows a bottom view of the substitute cover of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 shows a back view of the substitute cover of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 shows a top view of the substitute cover of FIG. 1, without theupper layer 6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 shows a sectional view according to section plane A--A of thesubstitute cover of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 shows a sectional view according to section plane B--B of thesubstitute cover of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 shows an enlarged sectional view of a portion of FIG. 9 showinga preferred embodiment of a valve 7 belonging to the transfer means ofthe substitute cover of FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 shows a mechanical device, realised according to the invention,for removing the original cover from the body of an ink-jet writinghead;

FIG. 13 shows a top view and a side view of the leverage 130 of FIG. 12.

In the enclosed figures the correspondent structural elements are markedwith the same numerical references.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A re-loading device for ink-jet writing head, realised according to theinvention, includes a mechanical device (FIGS. 12 and 13) for removingfrom the body 11 (FIG. 1) of an ink-jet writing head the original coverused by the producer and a substitute cover 10 (FIG. 1) suitable to beconnected to the body 11 of the ink-jet writing head in place of theoriginal cover.

FIG. 1 shows schematically the substitute cover 10 connected to the body11 of a three-colour ink-jet writing head, which is not described ingreater detail: as shown in the top view of FIG. 2, the upper side ofthe body 11 is provided with three groups of three holes (12, 13), whereat least some of the lateral ones (12) are used for connecting theoriginal cover to the body 11, while the central ones (13) are used forthe first loading of each ink into the relevant tank of the three-colourink-jet writing head.

FIGS. 3 to 7 show orthogonal views of the substitute cover 10 of FIG. 1;there are shown:

the external shell 1 having the same size and shape as said originalcover;

pierced pins 2, each of which is connected to one of the tanks 3(positioned inside the external shell 1) containing an ink to betransferred into a relevant tank positioned inside the body 11 of thethree-colour ink-jet writing head through the transfer means shown byFIGS. 9 to 11;

reversible means connecting the substitute cover 10 to the body 11. Inthe present embodiment the connecting means are realised through pairsof elastic fork-shaped elements 4 (omitted in the side view of FIG. 4)positioned beside one of the pierced pins 2 (FIGS. 5 to 7, 9 and 10) andsuitable to be engaged in a reversible manner in the lateral holes 12 ofthe body 11 of the ink-jet writing head. The substitute cover 10 istherefore manually separable from the body 11 of the ink-jet writinghead when at least one of its tanks 3 is empty.

Of course, a substitute cover 10 realised according to the invention andsuitable for re-loading a one-colour ink-jet writing head is providedwith only one pierced pin 2 belonging to the transfer means andconnected to the sole tank 3 positioned inside the external shell 1.

The pierced pins 2 are covered by protection caps 5, which must beremoved before connecting the substitute cover 10 to the body 11 of theink-jet writing head through the reversible connecting means. FIG. 8shows a top view of the substitute cover 10 of FIG. 1 whose upper layer6 (FIG. 4) has been removed to show the external holes 71 of valves 7belonging to the transfer means: a preferred embodiment of a valve 7 isshown on the enlarged sectional view of FIG. 11. FIG. 9 shows asectional view (according to section plane A--A of FIG. 3) of thesubstitute cover 10 of FIG. 1: there are shown, sectioned, the externalshell 1 (including the upper layer 6) and three tanks 3 positionedinside the external shell 1, where each tank 3 is connected to transfermeans including one of the above mentioned pierced pins 2 (covered witha protection cap 5) and one of the above mentioned valves 7, activatedby the user for transferring the ink loaded into said tank 3 to therelevant tank positioned inside the body 11 of the three-colour ink-jetwriting head.

FIG. 10 shows a sectional view (according to section plane B--B of FIG.3) of the substitute cover 10 of FIG. 1; there are shown, sectioned, theexternal shell 1 including the upper layer 6, one of the tanks 3positioned inside the external shell 1 (connected with a pierced pin 2covered with a protection cap 5 and provided with a valve 7) and a pairof elastic fork-shaped elements 4 positioned beside the pierced pin 2.

According to a further possible embodiment, not shown in the figures,the substitute cover 10 includes an additional tank 3, positioned insidethe external shell 1, which contains a black ink to be transferred to anadditional tank positioned inside the body 11 of the ink-jet writinghead through transfer means which includes an additional pierced pin 2and an additional valve 7 activated by the user for transferring theblack ink from the additional tank 3 positioned inside the externalshell 1 to the additional tank positioned inside the body 11 of theink-jet writing head.

FIG. 11 shows an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 9 showing apreferred embodiment of the valve 7 (belonging to transfer means)positioned below the upper layer 6 of the external shell 1 of thesubstitute cover 10.

The valve 7 includes a cylindrical body 72 (having one end surroundingthe external hole 71, the other end of reduced size and a circle ofholes 73 on its lateral side) and a ball 74 pressure inserted inside thecylindrical body 72.

In the rest position of the valve 7 the external hole 71 is hermeticallyclosed by the ball 74 as shown in FIG. 11a), while in the workingposition of the valve 7 the ball 74 is pushed down by the user [as shownin FIG. 11b)] through a pen, a pencil or another suitable means totransfer the ink from the tank 3 to the relevant tank positioned insidethe body 11 of the ink-jet writing head.

When the ball 74 is pushed down, the external air enters tank 3 throughthe holes 73 and, as a consequence, the ink goes down by gravity fromtank 3 to the relevant tank positioned inside the body 11 of the ink-jetwriting head through the relevant pierced pin 2 inserted into therelevant central hole 13 provided in the upper side of the body 11 ofthe ink-jet writing head.

FIG. 12 shows a mechanical device realised according to the inventionfor removing the original cover from the body 11 of an ink-jet writinghead: it comprises a base 120 suitable for receiving at least partiallythe body 11 of the ink-jet writing head and a leverage 130, "pivotally"connected to the base 120, acting on the connection zone between theoriginal cover and the body 11 of the ink-jet writing head at leastpartially positioned inside the base 120. FIG. 13 shows the top and sideviews of the leverage 130.

The base 120 includes a cavity 121 suitable for receiving the lower partof the body 11 of the ink-jet writing head and a pierced section 122wherein a pin 131, connected to a cam-shaped end 132 of the leverage 130(FIG. 13), is "pivotally" inserted: the pierced section 122 of the base120 is so high that the cam-shaped end 132 of the leverage 130 is actingon the connection zone between the original cover and the body 11 of theink-jet writing head when it is partially positioned into the cavity 121of the base 120.

The use of the re-loading device object of the present invention is nowbriefly described.

Partially positioned the ink-jet writing head into the cavity 121 of thebase 120, the original cover used by the producer is removed from thebody 11 of the ink-jet writing head by acting through the cam-shaped end132 of the leverage 130 on the connection zone between the originalcover and the body 11 of the ink-jet writing head.

A substitute cover 10 is then connected to the body 11 of the ink-jetwriting head through reversible connecting means: the pierced pins 2 areinserted into the relevant loading holes 13 provided in the upper sideof the body 11 of the ink-jet writing head, connecting the tanks 3positioned inside the external shell of the substitute cover 10 to therelevant tanks positioned inside the body 11 of the ink-jet writinghead.

When one of the tanks positioned inside the body 11 of the ink-jetwriting head is empty, the user removes the upper layer 6 of thesubstitute cover 10 and pushes down the ball 74 of the valve 7 of thetank 3 of the substitute cover 10 where the ink to be transferred isloaded: the external air enters tank 3 through the holes 73 provided onthe lateral side of the cylindrical body 72 of the valve 7 and the inkgoes down by gravity from the tank 3 of the substitute cover 10 to therelevant tank positioned inside the body 11 of the ink-jet writing head,re-loading them.

Of course, two or more of the tanks positioned inside the body 11 of theink-jet writing head can be re-loaded at the same time by pushing downthe balls 74 of the valves 7 of the relevant tanks 3 positioned insidethe substitute cover 10.

Afterward, the user separates manually the substitute cover 10 includingat least one empty tank 3 and connects to the body 11 of the ink-jetwriting head another substitute cover 10.

What is claimed is:
 1. A re-loading device for ink-jet writing head,comprising a mechanical device for removing from the body of saidink-jet writing head the original cover used by the producer and asubstitute cover which is connected to said body of said ink-jet writinghead in place of said original cover, wherein:(i) said mechanical devicecomprises a base suitable for receiving at least a part of said body ofsaid ink-jet writing head and a leverage pivotally connected to saidbase and acting on the connection zone between said original cover andsaid body of said ink-jet writing head at least partially positionedinto said base; and: (ii) said substitute cover has the same size andshape as the original cover and includes:an external shell having thesame size and shape as said original cover; at least one tank,positioned inside said external shell of said substitute cover; transfermeans for transferring ink from said at least one tank positioned insidesaid external shell to at least one relevant tank positioned inside saidbody of said ink-jet writing head; reversible means for connecting saidsubstitute cover to said body of said ink-jet writing head, saidsubstitute cover being manually separable from said body of said ink-jetwriting head when at least one tank of said substitute cover is empty.2. A re-loading device according to claim 1, wherein said base includesa cavity suitable for receiving at least a part of said body of saidink-jet writing head and a pierced section wherein a pin belonging tosaid leverage is pivotally inserted, said pierced section of said basebeing so high that said leverage is acting on said connection zonebetween said original cover and said body of said ink-jet writing headpartially positioned into said cavity of said base.
 3. A re-loadingdevice according to claim 2, wherein said pin is connected to acam-shaped end of said leverage which acts on said connection zonebetween said original cover and said body of said ink-jet writing head.4. A re-loading device according to claim 1 wherein inside said externalshell of said substitute cover a plurality tanks are positioned, each ofsaid tanks containing one of the inks to be transferred into a relevanttank positioned inside said body of said ink-jet writing head throughsaid transfer means.
 5. A re-loading device according to claim 1,wherein said reversible connecting means includes pairs of elasticfork-shaped elements positioned beside pierced pins belonging to saidtransfer means and suitable to be engaged in a reversible manner inrelevant pairs of holes provided in said upper side of said body of saidink-jet writing head.
 6. A re-loading device according to claim 1,wherein said transfer means includes, a pierced pin connected to saidtank of said substitute cover and a valve, activated by the user fortransferring said ink from said tank positioned inside said externalshell to said relevant tank positioned inside said body of said ink-jetwriting head.
 7. A re-loading device according to claim 6, wherein saidvalve includes a cylindrical body having a first end surrounding anexternal hole provided in the upper side of said substitute cove, asecond end of reduced size and a circle of holes on its lateral side,and a ball which is pressure inserted inside said cylindrical body.
 8. Are-loading device according to claim 7, wherein at the rest position ofsaid valve said ball closes hermetically said external hole.
 9. Are-loading device according to claim 7, wherein at the working positionof said valve said ball is pushed down by the user, the external airenters said tank positioned inside said external shell through saidholes on the lateral side of said cylindrical body of said valve andsaid ink goes down by gravity from said tank positioned inside saidexternal shell to said relevant tank positioned inside said body of saidink-jet writing head through said pierced pin inserted into a relevantloading hole provided in the upper side of said body of said ink-jetwriting head.
 10. A re-loading device according to claim 6, wherein saidpierced pin is provided with a protection cap to be removed beforeconnecting said substitute cover to said body of said ink-jet writinghead.